Brown Sugar Smoked Salmon

Brown Sugar Smoked Salmon

4 servings
You won't believe how easy this Brown Sugar Smoked Salmon is! The rub is absolute perfection. It's ready in less than two hours with just five simple ingredients and your smoker!

Ingredients

  • fresh salmon

    skin-on

    2 lb
  • brown sugar
    2 tbsp
  • dill weed

    dried

    1 tsp
  • salt
    1 tsp
  • black pepper
    1 tsp

Directions

  1. 1

    Heat smoker to 250-275 degrees Fahrenheit.

  2. 2

    In a small bowl, combine salt, pepper, dill and brown sugar to form the rub. Pat the salmon fillet dry with a paper towel.

  3. 3

    Pat the seasoning mix onto the surface of the fish, focusing on the flesh side of the raw salmon.

  4. 4

    (Optional) If time allows, place salmon in refrigerator to dry brine for about an hour, covered with plastic wrap.

  5. 5

    Smoke salmon skin side down, directly on the wire rack of the smoker for one hour or until the salmon hits 145 degrees Fahrenheit using an instant read thermometer.

  6. 6

    When it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit, pull the salmon from the smoker and allow it to rest on a cooling rack for 5-10 minutes before serving.

Brown Sugar Smoked Salmon

Brown Sugar Smoked Salmon

65 min4 servings346 cal

Similar Recipes

Garlic Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon

Garlic Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon

Garlic Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon is tender and flaky salmon covered in the most amazing garlic brown sugar soy glaze. The flavor is out of this world, and it will become a new family favorite! 

30 minutes4 servings449 kcal
Brown Sugar Baked Salmon

Brown Sugar Baked Salmon

My family loves this easy brown sugar salmon recipe! As the salmon bakes in the oven, the brown sugar rub melts and caramelizes into a delicious, sweet, smoky glaze. To make this a sheet pan dinner, toss your favorite veggies onto the baking sheet with the salmon. The article above has suggestions for which veggies work well in this recipe.

25 minutes4 servings325 kcal
Crispy Pan-Seared Salmon Fillets

Crispy Pan-Seared Salmon Fillets

Get extra-crisp skin and tender, moist, evenly cooked flesh using our technique for perfect pan-seared salmon fillets.

20 minutes529 kcal
Honey Garlic Salmon

Honey Garlic Salmon

20 Minute Honey Garlic Salmon. Pan fried and served with a sweet and sticky honey lemon glaze.

20 minutes4 servings325 kcal
Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze

Salmon with Brown Sugar Glaze

Brown Sugar Glazed Salmon is a simple and delicious way to kick your salmon up a notch! I love the contrast of the light and flakey salmon with a sweet brown sugar glaze. It's easy enough to put together for a weeknight dinner and the kids love it too!

20 minutes4 servings
Broiled Salmon

Broiled Salmon

This recipe for broiled salmon is fresh fish fillets coated in olive oil, garlic and herbs, then broiled until browned. A quick and easy dinner option that's on the table in less than 20 minutes!

20 minutes4 servings
Bourbon Peach Roasted Salmon

Bourbon Peach Roasted Salmon

The rich, buttery salmon is coated in a sticky, caramelized bourbon peach glaze that’s bursting with sweet peaches, warm bourbon, honey, and a touch of spice. Roasted to perfection, this dish is both easy enough for a weeknight dinner and elegant enough for entertaining.

30 minutes4 servings420 kcal
Baked Honey Sriracha Lime Salmon

Baked Honey Sriracha Lime Salmon

Sweet and spicy, baked honey sriracha lime salmon in foil is tender and flaky and has the most incredible flavors. A healthy and easy 30 minute meal for salmon lovers. 

30 minutes4 servings170 kcal

Ratings & Reviews

Be the First to Rate

Your rating helps others discover amazing recipes. Share your experience and let others know what you think!

About this Recipe

Craving incredibly flavorful, tender smoked salmon without the fuss? This Brown Sugar Smoked Salmon recipe delivers an unforgettable main course that's surprisingly easy, coming together in just over an hour using your smoker. Forget complicated marinades; this recipe proves that simple ingredients can yield extraordinary results.

Why This Recipe Works

What makes this smoked salmon so special is its masterful simplicity. The brown sugar rub, a perfect blend of sweet, savory, and herbaceous notes, transforms fresh salmon into a deeply flavored experience. With only five pantry-staple ingredients, you'll achieve a restaurant-quality dish that highlights the natural richness of the salmon and the irresistible smoky char.

What to Expect

Prepare for a truly delectable experience. Each bite of this smoky salmon offers a delicate balance of sweetness from the brown sugar, a subtle earthiness from the dill weed, and a hint of warmth from the black pepper. The texture will be moist, flaky, and tender, infused with that wonderful smoky aroma that only a smoker can provide. It's a satisfying and flavorful dish that feels special enough for company but is straightforward enough for any weeknight.

Customization & Variations

This simple recipe is highly adaptable to your taste preferences. For those who enjoy a richer sweetness, you can slightly increase the amount of brown sugar in the rub. If you prefer a more pronounced herbal flavor, don't hesitate to add a touch more dill weed. Likewise, a bit more black pepper can enhance the savory notes and add a subtle kick. While the recipe calls for skin-on salmon, any fresh salmon fillet will absorb the smoky flavors beautifully.

Serving & Context

This Brown Sugar Smoked Salmon makes an ideal main course for a casual gathering or a flavorful weeknight dinner. Serve it alongside roasted vegetables, a fresh green salad, or over a bed of fluffy rice to complete your meal.

Frequently Asked Questions